Michael at the worksite
Michael finds what he has been looking for at Tasks
Tasks Unlimited tracks a range of outcomes to measure how well our programs are meeting community needs and goals. For example, 90% of our clients report that their ability to manage mental health symptoms has improved since coming to Tasks.
While we are proud of those outcomes, the data leaves out a big part of the story: the story part. When participants share their journeys with us, their words speak, literally, to Tasks’ impact. Michael’s story is one.
“I was adopted as an infant into a dysfunctional home environment,” shares Michael. “As a kid I found myself getting into trouble and making poor decisions. At the age of 12, my family kicked me out of the house. I spent years in and out of juvenile detention, got caught up into drinking, drugs, joined gangs, and committed crimes. I have spent most of my life bouncing between criminal activity, addiction treatment centers, homelessness, and prison.”
At the start of 2024, Michael decided he wanted to get sober and start over. At that point, he had been unemployed for 20 years. Walking down Nicollet Avenue, he passed the Tasks office and stopped in to see what we had to offer. In June, Michael joined the Jobs Training Program and, thanks to our Benefits Cliff partnership with Hennepin County, was able to continue receiving critical benefits, uninterrupted.
Michael quickly excelled in his role, and before long he earned a permanent position as a janitor at the Minneapolis Federal Courts, where he now works 20 hours per week. At this supported employment worksite, he receives vocational support while on the job, along with the flexibility to focus on his mental and chemical health, like adjusting his hours on certain days of the week to attend AA meetings.
He has been a mentor to his peers at the jobsite and at the Tasks Resource Center, where he takes part in recreational activities such as fishing on the St. Croix and even weaving a Vikings scarf for his dog. Michael shared that he never felt like he was a part of a supportive community before coming to Tasks. Now, he has referred others and is eager to share how far he’s come.
“Like I tell everybody, everything I received from Tasks has helped me have the best year I’ve ever had. Due to this program, the grants, the help, and the support from staff. It’s awesome.”